MPR’s Tim Pugmire reports that DFL Governor Tim Walz signed his first two bills, and he suggested the bipartisan agreements could be a model for the rest of the session. Despite frequent calls for “early wins,” lawmakers took two months to put legislation on the new governor’s desk. Neither Walz nor top legislative leaders were sounding disappointed.

Walz put his signature on a $13.3 million stop-gap funding measure for repairs and improvements to the Minnesota Licensing and Registration System. The action prevents state agencies from sending out layoff notices to the outside contractors working on MNLARS.